You mowed their lawn. You designed their website. You cleaned their house. You fixed their car. You painted their fence. You catered their event.
You did the work. They said they would pay. They have not.
It does not matter what the work was. If you did it and they agreed to pay, they owe you the money. Here is how to collect it.
You do not need a contract
A verbal agreement is legally binding in Australia. If they said “come mow my lawn for $80” and you did it, they owe you $80. If they said “build me a website for $3,000” and you delivered, they owe you $3,000.
Evidence that helps: text messages, emails, invoices you sent, photos of the completed work, witnesses.
Send a Letter of Demand
Do not just keep texting them. Send a formal Letter of Demand. This is a legal document that:
- States exactly what they owe and why
- Gives them 14 days to pay
- Warns them you will take it to the tribunal if they do not
Ready to put it in writing?
Answer 3 quick questions to check you have the details your document needs, and see your next step.
1. Who owes you?
2. How much?
3. Do you have it in writing?
Your result is ready. Where should we send it?
Get paid — $49
Claim Done drafts your Letter of Demand for $49. Takes 2 minutes to start — tell us who owes you and how much. We draft and send it in about 5 minutes. You keep 100% of what you recover.
What happens when you send a Letter of Demand
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Letter of Demand drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Letter of Demand from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $49 AUD. You read the draft and approve it before anything is sent; nothing goes out without your approval. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=letter-of-demand. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Letter of Demand cost, and how long does it take?
$49 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. Email delivery is free; registered post is $29 extra. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Do I need a lawyer to send a Letter of Demand in Australia?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to write or send a Letter of Demand; many people send their own. Claim Done drafts it for you and you approve it before it is sent.